CHAPTER ONE
RETURN TO THE NEON WORLD OF REALITY
Neon City, an endless world of brightness. This was a new way of living to them all. In this city, it was the brightest sight.
Rain poured all about the city limits. Its city glowing with its very own bright colorful lights.
Its neon like blood showing more every day. The rain made it seem even more wonderful at night.
Standing without a care in the world in the cold night.
Wind blowing against his cloak. Still with torn inside and out.
In his left hand, bearing a hand-written letter. A letter from his Mentor Harris. One of his oldest friends.
The hand-written letter said.
- "NEED TO MEET NOW…. USUAL PLACE"
- "NOT THAT PLACE BUT THE OTHER ONE NEXT TO THE OTHER"
Few people could ever understand what he would mean. Harris was a troublesome person.
Yet he was one of the best to train with in order to have something done.
Understanding the letter. Flicking with his fingers the letter burned up into ashes. The tips of his fingers.
Had glowed bright blue as it burned away the letter. Rick overlooking his wonders of life.
He loved this. The freedom of life. Its boundlessness of what it held without commitments.
Freedom he enjoyed. His arms were open and spread out. He turned around his back to the edge.
Letting himself take a step backwards.
He leaped. Without a worry.
His eyes closed.
He smiled widely.
All around him the bright colors were all glowing brightly. While in freefall.
He continued having his eyes closed. Knowing the dangers of this was high but he wasn't as worried.
Rick opened his eyes as he gripped from his belt and unsheathed a grappling like hook. Firing it away.
It gripped and was strong enough to withstand his weight.
Sending him with a massive tug over the crossing streets and onto the ground floor.
Landing on top of a 4-door car. A homeless sleeping sounded. Rick jumped down from the car.
People stared at him with a shock. A couple moved out of the way quickly about it.
Looking at him weirdly. Rick didn't care too much about what they thought. They didn't know truth.
Rick moved swiftly with patience. Knowing the situation. He had been gone for a while. What occurred.
That moment in the past 2 weeks, it was explained to him about the dimensions. Being very real.
Taking his sweet time about it. Understanding the urgent message handed down to him.
The Rick Sack boy smiled about this. His hands inside his pockets. Rick looked across the street.
Neon colors showing off names of many stores. Feeling the wind blowing slowly. The rain water pouring.
He loved this city. For its very being. Many shops and various mysterious like logos of drinks and bars.
Rick stopped at the corner of the end of the walkway.
Overlooking at the straight curved like bar of a building. The street was divided into left and right.
In the middle was the bar. Staring at the building he remembered about it. The day he showed up here.
The bar was almost an antique itself. Rick was pleased about it. He thought of it much when he could.
Still showing the signs of its designer and colors from when it first opened.
-THE DRUNKEN SHOW-
The bar was filled with crowds of drunks and random Sack people. They all mind their own.
Filled with bits of neon lights inside and out. The Drunken Show was a spectacular place to visit.
Wonders filling everything around of it. Made it a happy hour of a time.
All about living out their own delights as they could. Amongst them the bartender looked at the drunk.
The one he understood well enough to see he was about done for the night.
She came over with a beautiful stunning look. Wearing a solid black dress with high heels.
Her hair was breaded perfectly. The hair length was up to her hips. Her eyes of beauty colored pink like.
She had purple lipstick, hair color was blue. She wore a bracelet like necklace around her neck.
Her name was "Carrie" Owner of the Drunken Show. The drunk in front of her was about to lift a hand.
Til she took his small half cup glass away from his reach. He sighed mumbling a few words aloud.
"You've had enough already Harris" she said
"Hmmm…. Carrie...Carrie it's not yet your birthday…" whispered Harris
Carrie looked away with rolling eyes at him. She smiled cleaning and washing the glass out.
She caught a glimpse at the door. Opening doors as a couple walked out.
After the couple a covered man in a cowboy like outfit with blackened red goggles. Bumped into Rick.
The strange goggle like Sack boy looked at Rick. Both stood facing one another.
Rick tapped the stranger's shoulders. Walking passed him. Carrie sighed thinking this wasn't good.
The stranger stood there staring at Rick's back. Almost as if he knew him. The stranger only stared.
Rick over looked at all the others. Some drinking at tables of 4. Others alone. Some crying about ex's.
Harris looked to the right his hand dropped swinging back and forth. He acted so drunk. Rick took a seat.
Tapping his shoulder Rick helped Harris back to his seat. Harris stared at him. His eyes closed.
"Mary is that you- "
Rick looked at Carrie. She gave him a smile and a chuckle. She reached for a new glass for Rick.
"Thanks Carrie" said Rick
Looking at Harris. Rick's hand glowed with blue energy tapping the forehead of Harris.
Within seconds Harris jolted upwards and his eyes wide. His energy was back up to speed.
The alcohol was evaporated from his systems. Rick reached for his drink and drank it up fast.
Harris looked left then right. Noticing his student Rick. Calmly looking forward. His smile was simple.
"Tell me how was it at that OTHER WORLD?" asked Harris
"It was everything you said it would be, just not home at all." said Rick
"What's so important?" asked Rick
Harris looked away from him, looking sadly. His face went from happy to sad.
Rick only stared forward, thinking of what it could be but to him. It must be something else.
"It's 2 things really…...but the first one is the toughest to deal with" said Harris
"Yes? What is it" said Rick
"Madam Silver has passed away…" said Harris
Rick lowered his empty glass as he was looking through it. His hands lowered it down easily and gently.
Hearing the laughter all around them. Carrie was aside from them.
She wasn't listening but noticed the shift. The constant change of expression.
"Didn't think it would happen so soon…" said Rick
"Well it did, and the second thing is that since her death things have been shifting" said Harris
"Changes of Odin as they say" said Rick
"Yes, that has been ongoing, searching for the next one to be High Son" said Harris
Rick sighed about this. Being the High Son, meant more being at meetings and paper work.
Less field work and less adventures. He hoped that when the selection came down to it. He wasn't.
Rick wasn't ready to let this style of his life go. He wanted this freedom. The single life he enjoyed.
"Have they selected yet?" asked Rick
"So far, the list had come down to asking, and honestly I'm surprised…"
Rick looked at Harris. Wondering if he was speaking about him. Hoping he wasn't at all.
"Sara is one of them amongst that is me" said Harris
Rick breathed again like normal thanking it wasn't him. Rick tossed a hundred-dollar bill to cover it.
"Rick?! Wait what are you- "
Reaching over the counter he grabbed a highly expensive bottle and poured two drinks.
Harris was stunned. Surprisingly watching Rick laugh and smile about it as if nothing mattered.
"Celebrating it to you and then later with Sara" said Rick
" . Wait I don't want it either man" said Harris
"Come on! You'll be fine" said Rick
"You do understand it's the position that controls everything in this sector 3 Cities" said Harris
"Naaahhhh…. No Worries you'll be fine…" said Rick
Harris and Rick stared forward. Thinking of what this world will be like once the new selection is done.
"I won't be it that's for sure and I don't want it" said Rick
"Everything has a chance including you as much as a monkey" said Harris
"Ouch" said Rick
Pouring another drink for the both. Time had gone moving slowly at some point with this talk.